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The 101st Airborne’s New General Has Big Army Boots To Fill

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Maj. Gen. James McConville (left) has been promoted to a job in the Pentagon. Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky (right) took over command of the 101st Airborne Division in a ceremony Friday. Credit: Larry Noller / U.S. Army

Maj. Gen. James McConville (left) has been promoted to a job in the Pentagon. Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky (right) took over command of the 101st Airborne Division in a ceremony Friday. Credit: Larry Noller / U.S. Army

Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky formally took command of the 101st Airborne Friday, becoming the 45th commander of the division. He arrives behind Maj. Gen James McConville, who becomes the longest-serving leader of the division.

McConville spent 34 months in charge. The period included a full deployment of the division to Afghanistan.

Valesky comes to Fort Campbell from the Pentagon, which is where McConville heads now. He’s been nominated for a promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as deputy chief of staff of the Army.

Filed Under: WPLN News

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Blake Farmer, Host, This Is Nashville

Blake Farmer is the host of “This Is Nashville,” the flagship weekday show of Nashville Public Radio. Previously, Blake spent 16 years at WPLN News, serving as host, editor and news director. Before a two-year radio hiatus with a Nashville-based healthcare company, Blake was one of the country’s most prolific healthcare audio journalists. He produced stories for both local and national programs, extending the reach of his reporting through a partnership with KFF Health News. Outside of work, Blake can be found running or biking on roads that other Nashvillians consider too busy for such activities. So far, he has always made it home to his wife of 20 years and two children.

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